Few tears were shed for David Dewhurst after his one-sided loss to state Sen. Dan Patrick in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor. Tea-party supporters were gleeful after toppling the Texas political giant with crushing efficiency.

We believe there should have been more tears than cheers from West Texas, despite Dewhurst’s overwhelming lack of support from this region in the runoff.

Dewhurst was a reliable partner for state Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, in ensuring West Texas’ needs were not forgotten in Austin.

With Duncan moving to Texas Tech as chancellor and Dewhurst losing, we’re worried West Texas priorities will take a back seat in back-room political conversations.

Certainly, no one in Texas was surprised by Dew-hurst’s defeat. The three-term incumbent made a series of political miscalculations that ended his career. The Houston energy mogul was his own worst enemy the last two years. Patrick won 65 percent of the vote.

Despite being a conservative, Dewhurst became the poster boy of establishment politics in the state after running for the U.S. Senate in 2012. His loss to Ted Cruz in the Republican Senate primary after a major GOP split made him vulnerable, even as he spent millions of his personal fortune to stay in office.

But as we write Dewhurst’s political obituary, we would be remiss if we did not express appreciation for Dewhurst’s attention to West Texas.

By giving Duncan key assignments when negotiating the state budget and by appointing him to the Legislative Budget Board, West Texas had a fair place at the table. Issues related to Texas Tech were not forgotten in the wave of support for rival state institutions such as the University of Texas and Texas A&M.

The Legislative Budget Board is the most-coveted legislative appointment because it develops budget and policy recommendations and does fiscal analysis. Except for the 2009 session, Duncan was a Legislative Budget Board member every year during Dewhurst’s tenure, guaranteeing the South Plains and the Panhandle a strong voice.

Dewhurst was hurt by three significant events during his tenure. When the 2012 senatorial primary was moved back nearly three months for redistricting, it allowed the underdog Cruz to rally support. In 2013, Dewhurst was blamed for allowing state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, to hijack the legislative session and scuttle an abortion bill. And this year, he and Patrick clashed on in-state tuition for illegal immigrants, with Patrick criticizing Dewhurst for failing to advance a bill in the Senate that would have repealed a 2001 law that allows some border crossers to qualify for in-state tuition.

The landslide loss was the worst by a Texas incumbent since Democrats dumped then-Gov. Dolph Briscoe as their standard bearer in 1978.

“The moment David Dewhurst lost against Ted Cruz his political career was effectively over,” Rice University political scientist Mark Jones told the Houston Chronicle.

While his political career appears to be over, Dewhurst’s legacy will include credit for a robust Texas economy in partnership with Gov. Rick Perry.

“Over the last 10 years, we’ve had a shared vision … that has left Texas a better place than we found it,” Dewhurst told supporters after his loss. “At the end of the day, that’s all you can ask.”

At-a-glance

■ Our position: Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst’s legacy will be one of fairness in dealing with West Texas issues in the Legislature. By appointing state Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, to important positions in the Senate, Dewhurst assured Lubbock and the South Plains had a voice in financial and other controversial decisions.

■ Why you should care: Without strong advocates in Austin, West Texas issues and priorities have little chance against agendas from metro areas like Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.

■ For more information: Search for Texas election results by keywording the Secretary of State’s office or by going to https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/

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by confidentiality laws and HIPAA was not in effect at the time. Dan Patrick's mental health records are part of the public record because of his sworn deposition in a slander lawsuit against a newspaper reporter.

Since this material was already published in the Houston Chronicle, I am requesting that the LAJ let the material remain uncensored to correct the record:

"That admission was directly related to a suicide attempt on Jan. 14, 1986, according to the records, in which he tried to overdose on an antidepressant medication and slash his right wrist before collapsing and being taken to a local emergency clinic. According to the records, Patrick reported 'business and marital problems and difficulties in personal relationships'."

Judging by your characterization of the "three significant events" that hurt Dewhurst, why didn't you just endorse Patrick?

You've tacitly given your support for the racist redistricting debacle by supporting Abbott and other racist legislation that courts have ruled against. All of which Patrick supported.

Wendy Davis never "hijacked" anything. Dewhurst couldn't follow the rules as it was and by suggesting that he further disregard them you only show how unethical the Lubbock AJ editorial board is.

Regarding instate tuition for some children brought here by their parents, you've acknowledged that you would have wanted it repealed by admonishing Dewhurst for not bringing it to a vote when Patrick wanted it advanced.

These are all things you would have wanted or wanted to occur in order to have representation that better represents West Texas. However, all of the things you would have wanted or wanted to happen in order for better representation, hurt West Texas and hurt Texans in general.

Thank you for saying that. She is incredibly smart and wants to put more emphasis on smaller businesses that make up most of the businesses in Texas. Growing these business that have been left out of the Corporate Welfare loop is important.

She wants to focus on our future work force by funding education according to Article VII of the our State Constitution rather than circumvent it.

Enough of the giveaways to the wealthiest who enjoy and effective tax rate of 3.2% while our public services and schools are underfunded.

You are correct. Dewhurst was not a good lt governor, but he was better than patrick. At least he did not declare bankruptcy and then refuse to repay the people he owed money to. I think that may be called stealing. I am not sure, but it sure sounds that way to me.

I worked for a firm once that declared bankruptcy and when the son took the company over, he did well and as he could, he repaid every penny that had been forgiven in the bankruptcy proceeding. So, it can be done.

@ TRUEPATRIOT RETURNS: "That admission was directly related to a suicide attempt on Jan. 14, 1986, according to the records, in which he tried to overdose on an antidepressant medication and slash his right wrist before collapsing and being taken to a local emergency clinic. According to the records, Patrick reported 'business and marital problems and difficulties in personal relationships'."

I was unaware of the overdose. That makes it even worse.

@ Feaco: "At least he did not declare bankruptcy and then refuse to repay the people he owed money to. I think that may be called stealing. I am not sure, but it sure sounds that way to me."

Thank you, Feaco, for bringing up this issue. I tried to find information about it, but wasn't confident that I had found enough.
Yes, many ethical people who are forced to take bankruptcy try to pay back their creditors. Folks who make no effort, well, that speaks volumes.

DAN PATRICK.....overdosed, slit his wrist, went bankrupt, has made no attempt to repay his creditors. Sterling Lieutenant Governor material, eh?

Here is the story about what brought up that lawsuit involving Dan Patrick. Patrick refused admission at one of his sport club bars to a reporter that had written some negative comments about him, then insulted the wife of the reporter with a racist slur. The reporter did what most men in this state would do--he defended his wife. It proceeded downhill from there. In the end, the judge pretty much laughed at Dan Patrick and the libel charge against the reporter was dismissed.

While Dan Patrick claims that he voluntarily committed himself for "moderate" depression for a short amount of time, the facts indicate that the depression was severe and that he was under supervisory care for at least a week. I don't think most people would classify those circumstances as either "moderate" or "short term."